The Friends

 

“Naman pass the ball”, Aamir yelled at the top of his voice.

Naman instead dribbled a little and finished with a clinical strike to the top right corner. Aamir smiled. The match ended with the 10^th graders beating the 12^th graders by the score 5-1, with three goals from Naman and two goals from Aamir.

“You asshole, you could have passed” Aamir said.

“Well the better player should have scored and he did” Naman said jokingly.

“Drop it guys, we won against the seniors, its your party Naman” Pruthvi said.

“Ok Ok, lets go to famous, I will drive though” Naman replied.

All three made their way to the car parking. They were close since childhood, and became tight through their shared love for football. They were inseparable. Be it chilling at Famous, attending lectures or playing, watching football they would be together.

“Its El Classico today boiss” said Pruthvi as hi took a bite of his Wada-Pav.

“Wanna watch it in the common room or my room?” Naman questioned.

“Well common room is more fun, the hostel crowd would be there” chipped in Aamir.

“No fights today whoever wins, like seriously” Pruthvi said.

Aamir was a supporter of Barcelona and Naman of Real Madrid. After each and every El Classico, a fight would take place between them and words, blows would be exchanged. The days that followed were very sour between the friends and Pruthvi always had the task of calming them down.

“Fuck Barcelona”, yelled Naman as Ronaldo scored his third at the 90^th minute with a beautiful curling  shot.

Aamir was quiet. But as soon as the match ended and Naman started dancing maniacally for obvious reasons. Aamir got up and pushed Naman and the routine repeated. Everyone went to their room angry.

“Pruthvi wake up, wake up”, the Shaws’ are beating Naman.

Pruthvi opened his eyes. It was afternoon, he had clearly overslept. Rohan was waking him up and he took some time to process the information.

“Not again man, get our gang. I will get Aamir”

Pruthvi knew Aamir was capable of scaring those bastards away, the bodybuilder he was. He hurried to his room. He didn’t know whether Aamir had calmed down after yesterday’s fight.

“Aamir, those Shaws’ are harassing Naman again ”, Pruthvi yelled as he knocked on Aamir’s door.

Out came Aamir, in gym clothes his ripped muscles showing. Before Pruthvi could say anything, Aamir began running. In an instant he was at Naman’s room. Just as Pruthvi was reaching that place he saw Aamir landing a punch on one of the boys. The boy yelled in pain and fell down. All others left Naman alone in an instant.

“Abey chutiyo, yeh aakhri bar bol rha hu. Wapas se isko touch kiya toh maa chodke rakkh dunga.” Aamir said angrily.

“Tere dost ne hamare corridor ke wall mai aake likha hai Barca losers. Salle tu bhi maar isse, tu Barca supporter haina” Tapas replied from their side.

Aamir looked at Naman, who was bleeding and shook his head.

“Jo bhi hai mai pehle uska dost hu badme mai barca ka fan hu. Sahi bata rha hu agar meko pata chala tumlog isko ek aur bar tang kr rhe ho, ek ek ko itna marunga sale pura muh badal dunga. Chal Naman” Aamir ended the fight as he usually does by having the last word.   

 

Pruthvi’s morning alarm brought him back to the present. He looked at the time, it was 7:01 am. His normal routine would be getting ready and reporting to his duty. But the call he received yesterday at 10 pm had changed things. He had two options and he already knew which one he was gonna choose even though it was the tougher one. He got up and moved towards the closet he had not opened for the last 10 years to retrieve a small contact diary. He searched for a phone number and dialled it hesitantly.

“Hello”, someone had picked up the phone on the other side.

“I want to talk to Naman” said Pruthvi calmly.

“There is no Naman here. Who gave you this number?”

“Tell him, its Pruthvi”

The line went dead. Pruthvi immediately thought if he had committed a mistake by calling Naman. But he could not do this alone. His phone rang.

“Hello” said Pruthvi.

“Well Well, I must say I am surprised Officer Pruthvi”, a familiar voice replied.

“Me too, I had thought you would not talk to me”

“Practically I shouldn’t since you and I are enemies now”

“We are not enemies. Its just that you are in the wrong side of the law and I am on the right side”

“Yea, if you look at it that way”

“How’s your criminal life treating you?”

“The same way your police life is treating you. If I may ask why are you calling me? Hope you are not asking me to surrender after failing to catch me”

“No No, I myself will catch you one day. But today its about Aamir”

“What about him?”

“I got a call from his mother yesterday night. Trivedi has caught him.”

“Well tell him to tone down his news reports. Also go rescue him. You are an officer.”

“I don’t have contacts in Trivedi’s gang and if caught by the police, Aamir won’t get a fair trial. I want to do this not as a police officer but as a friend and then decide if Police action is required.”

“So you want me to help you, an officer get information from one of the most dreaded gang’s? Do you even know what will happen if I go against Trivedi?”

“I know, believe me. But its our friend.”

“You both never even called me after college.”

“We didn’t agree with your ways and let me be clear I still don’t but its our friend, your friend. Remember our childhood. He requires us, otherwise I wouldn’t have called.”

“Pruthvi ji, you both may have left me but I never left you. Tumlog keliye aaj bhi jaan pe khelunga, bas puchke dekho”

Pruthvi knew it, Naman wasn’t lying.

“Get me information about his whereabouts and how to get in there. I will take it from there”

“Give me 1 hour”, Naman said and cut the call.

Pruthvi kitted up and readied his revolver in case it would be required. He waited for the phone to ring and it did.

“He is being held at Khasa Port. It is a Trivedi stronghold. I know how to get in there. Meet me at the Plaza” Naman said.

“I don’t want you there…. ” before Pruthvi could complete his sentence, Naman had cut the call.

Pruthvi made his way to the plaza, planning how to go about rescuing Aamir. Trivedi was the last person anyone messed with, even the Police. He had many officers on his payroll and practically ran the city. In case he involved the Police, Naman would also be apprehended. His mind was playing games with him. Of course he would like if Naman would be caught but not after he took his help.

“Ok so this is how we are going to do it ”, Naman explained to Pruthvi.

“You can’t be there with me”

“Of course I will be”

“You don’t understand, if I decide to involve the Police, you wouldn’t safe”

“Look who is caring for me now. Then don’t involve the police. Let us do this.”

Pruthvi sighed. He knew Naman would not relent. They were already late. They both got into his car and made their way to the port. After sneaking in, they got to Aamir after neutralising some guards.

“Aamir what the fuck did you do?” Pruthvi asked, as he untied Aamir.

“What is he doing here?” Aamir asked pointing towards Naman.

“He is helping me. Answer my question.”

“I was following a lead wherein people were blackmailed to work for Trivedi. As I dug more, I got to know about you,Naman” Aamir said.

“Got to know what Aamir?” Pruthvi asked.

“Naman was blackmailed to work for Trivedi. He doesn’t want to but does it because Trivedi has something against him. I have collected huge evidence against Trivedi and before I could go to court, he picked me up ”

Pruthvi looked at Naman. Naman was in tears. Pruthvi was hurt. He didn’t even try to understand what led Naman to take up a criminal’s path. There were tears even in Pruthvi’s eyes.

“I am sorry Naman, I wasn’t there for you” Aamir said.

“No my friend, No” Naman replied.

“Forgive me Naman” Pruthvi said.

All three of them hugged. Just like old times. All pain was gone and they forgot they were in enemy’s place. Bullets started flying as Trivedi’s men started firing. All of them took cover and Naman, Pruthvi returned fire.

“We have no chance of escape now, Trivedi is here”, said Naman pointing towards a Red Mercedes.

“Do you have the proof with you?” Pruthvi asked Aamir.

“Yes I have hid it.”

Pruthvi picked up his radio and was about to call in but he saw Naman and realised he couldn’t do this to him. Not after what Aamir revealed.

“Call it in Pruthvi or we all are gonna die here” Naman said.

“No I cant. You are here. The police won’t let you get away.”

“Try to understand, we have no chance without the police” Naman yelled.

Pruthvi had to agree. He reluctantly radioed the police for support.

“We need to cross to those containers, we will be safe till the police come. We can’t hold longer. Aamir go, we will cover you” Pruthvi said.

Aamir crossed before an array of bullets could wound him.

“Cover me Naman” Pruthvi said and started crossing. Just before he could reach the cover a bullet hit his leg and he fell down. Naman saw this. His and Pruthvi’s eyes met for the last time.

“Pull him in” Naman shouted before revealing himself and firing at the shooters.

As Aamir pulled him to safety, Pruthvi yelled in pain as he saw Naman drawing enemy fire and getting hit by bullets. In a second, he was safe, Naman was down and the Police was there. Aamir ran towards a motionless Naman.

It was over. Their friendship had lived its life. It had never broken. It had never vanished.

It would never end but their number had fallen.

As Naman used to say:

Sacha dost banna nahi hai aasan

Dost wahi jo dosti mai dede apni jaan